At least 23 persons have been killed at Aondona, Orbiam and Ahume in Gwer West local government area of Benue state by armed herdsmen.

Aondona is a community located on the Naka Taraku road and is home to Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Wilfred Anagbe, and Mrs. Eunice Ortom, wife to the former governor of Benue state.

Confirming the incident which took place on Sunday, the chairman of Gwer West local government area, Victor Orban Torsar, expressed outrage over the killing of over 20 persons, including a child of two years in 3 communities of his local government area.

He said while 12 persons were killed at Aondona on Sunday around 5pm, 5 others were killed at Orbiam community and 6 others, including a police man at Ahume community on Saturday.

The chairman condemned the attack in strong terms, describing it as “heinous and unacceptable.”

Addressing residents during a visit to the area, the chairman vowed to resign from his position if the government fails to take concrete actions to address the security situation in the local government area.

He emphasised that the people of Gwer West deserve to live in peace and safety, and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure their protection.

The chairman called on the state and federal governments to deploy more security personnel to the area to prevent further attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.

He also urged the people of Aondona, other affected areas and surrounding communities to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies to tackle the insecurity in the area.

The killings in Aondona have sparked widespread fear and anger among residents, who are demanding increased security presence in the area.

The chairman’s vow to resign if nothing is done about the situation has added weight to the growing calls for action from the government.

The security situation in Benue state has been a concern in recent times, with various communities experiencing attacks and violence.

The state government has been working to improve security, but more needs to be done to address the root causes of the violence and ensure the safety of citizens.

The chairman’s statement is seen as a significant development in the ongoing armed herders attacks on Benue, and many are watching to see if the government, particularly the federal government will take concrete actions to address the situation